Smyrna times., 1887-12-28
For The SMYRNA Times
A Chapter Of Local History.
DIR. MoGAw AND METHODIST.

We should keep in mind while read
ing the following history that the Rev.
John Wesley was a clergyman of the
Church of England, and his followers
never separated from that church until
after his death. They were strictly
speaking a society formed for the pro-
motion of holiness.
1t is true that they had many perse-
cutOrs among the lukewarm clergy as
we'll as laity of the church. Throngs
of ungOdly men who mObbed them fire.
quently were not only countenanced
but applauded. The reigning Sover-
eign, George the third, always had a
kind aOOrd to say in their behalf.
When the war commenced between
England and the colonies DIR. Samuel
McGaw was the pastor at Dover and
Duck Creek. Abraham Parsons at
tended the Church at Duck Creek and
obtained the services of the pastor to
assist him in building up a Church at
Blackstone Cross Roads. When all
the English Clergymen left this section
to return to England, he, the said
McGaW, being a nGtiUe DeLdtUaredn.
remained, and did more for the Meth
dists in Delaware, according to nv
views, than any man in the State.
Mr.. Asbury, a Methodist preacher,
an Englishman, remained in seclusion
for long period at Judge Whites in
this State. His mission to America
was to save souls, and he would not re-
turn to England, and yet it was thought
by his friends dangerous for him to
travel through the country as he had
previously done.
The Methodist Society at Parsons
house engaged the attention of the
good Episcopal Clergyman, and he
went thither to preach to them, to adj
minister the sacrament Ofthe LOrd'ssup-
per, and to christen the unbaptized.
The Society gathered by the labors
and expense of Parsons became so mn
merous at the end of two years. that it
was thought necessary to build a meet.
ing house for their accommodation
Mr.. Blackist0n contributed a lot for
that purpose, upon which a Meeting
House was erected, which was Thought
large IN that day, and became noted
for Its great revivals. Parsons contrib.
uted largely towards its erection and
was made Trustee. For a number of
years after this building was erected
1t was considered the largest Methodist
Chapel on the Peninsula.
The first meeting house the Metbo-
dlsts had in the State of Delaware was
erected by DIR. McGaw, and was called
the Forest Chapel. l do not know whv
the name was changed, but it was after
wards called " Thomas " Chanel
Thus the Episcopalians and MetbO-
dists worked tremendously together,
and used their influence at elections for
the promotion Of such men as encour-
aged morality and religion. In nv
youth have often heard it said that the
Mcthodists made Thomas Collins. Cor
erHor, and George CUmmin8, Sheriff. |
suppose it was done to carry out the
views as expressed in the preceding
four lines.
The great friendship existing between
them continued for about hirfv pears.
when it was broken by a Methodist
minister of Smyrna, named Richard
Lion. | forbear giving the history of
that period and that preacher. as /
said enough on that subject while
writing the History of Methodism on
the Peninsula few years ago.
SARAH =. MASON.
Smyrna, DeJ., Dec %, 1887.